A Tommy Robinson-led demonstration gathered in Central London on Saturday afternoon as activists chanted: “We would like our nation again.”
Hundreds gathered on the Strand waving Union, English, Scottish and Welsh flags as they sung renditions of “Rule Britannia” and chanted “England until I die”.
Robinson vowed the occasion can be “the largest patriotic rally the UK has ever seen”.
Nevertheless, round 1,000 law enforcement officials have been deployed to the streets of the capital to “maintain the peace” amid anticipated counter-demonstrations.
Protest teams Stand Up To Racism and former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace & Justice Challenge are set to march from Russell Sq. to Whitehall after branding Robinson a “fascist”.
“Fascists will not be welcome in London – or wherever. Be part of the mass mobilisation to isolate fascist fraudsters like ‘Tommy Robinson,” the group wrote on social media.
Tommy Robinson organised a rally by the centre of LondonPA/REUTERSRobinson stated his rally was to “unify” the UK, including: “Immediately the individuals of Britain will ship a message to the world.
“We are going to stay silent not. We would like out nation again.”
The police have already used powers underneath the Public Order Act to attempt to maintain the opposing teams aside amid fears of significant disruption.
Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove, who’s accountable for this weekend’s operation, warned that police will “intervene decisively” to cope with those that break the strict circumstances about when and the place they’re allowed to show.
He stated: “Our first precedence is to maintain the peace to make sure that these exercising their proper to lawful protest can accomplish that safely.
“We now have proactively used our powers underneath the Public Order Act to handle the timings and routes of marches and assemblies, guaranteeing that the teams are saved aside.
“Officers will intervene decisively to cope with any breaches of these circumstances, stop crime, and to reply to another incidents.
“Everybody has a proper to really feel secure and be secure in London.
“Those that abuse the appropriate to protest in an effort to unlawfully intimidate others or to make use of hate speech can anticipate to face police motion.
“The police presence might be very seen and I might urge anybody out and about in London, whether or not taking part in these occasions or not, to talk to an officer in the event that they really feel unsafe or want to report an incident.”
